Hi Everyone,

I have Toshiba Satellite 1800 Laptop. The Laptop has a BIOS password that I didn't know. when my company bought it for me it was set by a password. No one knows what the password is. Could you please Help me on this. I've tried a lot including resetin by using the parellel port. Please Help me.

ScottGem

Power On passwords can generally be reset in one of 2 ways. Either by use of a dip switch on the motherboard or pulling the battery for a period of time. However, this will reset all the CMOS settings, not just the password.

For a laptop I would pull the battery for at least 24 hours.

SESaskDFC

Howdy:

Toshiba eh?? Too bad.. Unfortunately, pulling the battery on one of those isn't going to work.. We have a couple of them at work and, if the password is changed and forgotten, then ONLY way in is to send it to an authorized Toshiba repair depot..

They can reset the password for you..

Murray

fredg

Hi,
Bios passwords in some laptops are stored in a special chip on the motherboard and the only way to bypass this password is to replace this laptop security chip. Some laptop bios passwords cannot be bypassed or reset by removing or shorting the cmos battery.
If all else fails, you could try formatting the harddrive, and reinstalling windows.
Best of luck,
fredg

ScottGem

I have never heard of a BIOS password stored in a security chip. Some laptops do have additional security features like fingerprint recognition to secure laptops in case of loss or theft. But such things run in addtion to a CMOS password not as part of it.

If one does have a power on password or additional security that prevents powering up without a password, fingerprint etc. then reformatting the hard drive will do NOTHING. The password would not be stored on the harddrive. Another dumb Fred suggestion.

Scott<>

ScottGem

Thanks Murray. I'm not that familiar with Toshibas.

Scott<>

NeedKarma

How is he going to reformat the hard drive when he can't even boot the computer?

Here is some info you can actually use:
http://www.tech-faq.com/reset-bios-password.shtml
http://www.uktsupport.co.uk/reference/biosp.htm

ScottGem

[quote=NeedKarma]How is he going to reformat the hard drive when he can't even boot the computer?

Good point! I thought of that, but it wasn't clear whether he couldn't boot or just couldn't get into the CMOS settings.

fredg

Hi,
One boots to a floppy boot disk, or an install CD.
fredg

NeedKarma

Nope, before it even gets to which boot source you are asked for a bios password.

Hope this helps, have a great day.